ACcording to your desires and the duty of an honest man, I have endeavoured to search and find out the corruptions of the Grandees and trustees in those parts which have tended to the great blemish and prejudice of the Integrity of the Parliament and Armies proceedings, and to the great oppression of the poore people. Sr. I formerly gave you intimation in generall, the desired particuler whereof I deferred till this time, aswell for that the greater affaires of the Kingdome being then in hand, and I know your leysure would not yet admit to present them seasonably to the Councell of the Army, as also longer time was advantagious unto me, that I might present unto you a perfect and faithfull account, since now the stumbling block is removed the peoples feares will be soonest secured, and their love most intirely united unto us, when they see Iustice run with so cleare a current on our parts, that their aggrievances shall be questioned and righted against such (though once tru­sted, as Committees or in what Authority soever) who have acted their owne wills and arbitrary Government upon the people, for their owne private ends. Sr. I acquainted you for­merly with the Names of the Committees in the severall Di­visions in York-shire; what I writ then concerning Sir Henry Cholmley, his actions since have rendred sufficient proofe.

For the West-riding J find these men predominant, Sir Robert Barwick, Sir Edward Roades, Mr. Stockdale, and Mr. [...]arrer. The first a mutable man, and to the judgement of all [Page 2] honest men a meer-time-server, upon every overture change­able in his Principles, which troubles the well-affected that such an one should be Chaire-man in their Committee; hee being a Lawyer, the place is serviceable to him to make any businesse he will (if before-hand he receive a liking Fee) goe well by his opinion. For the second Sir Edward Roades, when he was made Governour of Cawood Castle under Hotham, he was alwaies subservant to his selfe-end▪ & by Plunder to the dishonour of our cause it being the Originall example to o­thers, and the first occasion of Scandal the enemy everhad, to cast dirt upon our undertakings; Besides this way, to enrich himselfe he became Farmer of Delinquents estates (contrary to the Ordinance of Parliament, that no Committee man should farme Sequestrations at low rates, to the great losse of the Publike. Now in this late Warre, his associates in the Committee of the Militia appointed him Colonell (as indeed they preferred none to chiefe Commands but their own mem­bers, the better to command their owne Army (they terming it so) to fight the Independant, if the Scots had been in a way succesfull; by which trust he raised horse and money at plea­sure without limitation, having a Major byassed for his pur­pose, and have got cleere into their purses without fighting one stroke 3000. l.

For the third, Mr. Stockdale a person of a boundlesse ava­rice (though a Parliament man) drives on an interest for his owne benefit with the Committee, for there is profit hoped for without acaount, he hath much enriched himselfe as Trea­surer a warre, yet besides all this he hath received repaire for his losses to a much greater value then ever hee sustained, very undeserving of such respects; for since the time of tryall, his Faith could not support his Courage, but sought for security by shaking hands with Cavaliers, and getting his goods by them protected, yet upon pretence as his wives Act, who gave forth shee had procured a Protection from Langdale. Iudge by this how the good cause of the Kingdome was discounte­nanced by him, who should have been one of the chiefe As­certors.

[Page 5] For the fourth, Mr. Farrer one who is no lesse then the former ayming at his private interest, hath turned his House into the Committee Cham­ber, making his place like a trade of benefit, pitty hee hath any Imploy­ment of trust, for it is well known his readiness to comply with the ene­my in the beginning of y ^e last War, informing daily the other party what passed at their boord, and so zealous for the Scots, that he opposed the re­printing of the Ministers of Scotland Remoustrance to their Parliament, which was thought a most necessary thing by the well affected for the sa­tisfaction of the County, that it might more plaine appeare, wee had a party in Scotland notwithstanding their threatning Army, it is evident what we might have expected from them (if they had reached an Op­portunity) the major part of the Militia adhering.

For the North-riding, Sir Henry Cholmley, Mr. Henry Darley, Mt. Iohn Wastell, Mr. Ralph R [...]mer. For the first, his wayes & actions are knowne unto you already, and so I leave him to bee buried in the ruines of his owne disgraces. For the second, by his power in Sequestration and priviledge as a Parliament man, hee hath well stopped his Creditors mouthes, and offers for the present 15000. l. for a Purchase; if this were well examined no doubt it will appeare, hee hath been very ingenious for himselfe in the North, and no lesse at Goldsmiths-Hall, by his readi­nesse to serve Delinquents. His trade at Goldsmiths-Hall▪ and Habber­dashers-hall, and at Committees in the North will witnesse his gaines, and many frauds he used; having by severall Orders from himself one­ly, taken upon him the whole power of the aforesaid Committees. But his practises with Sir Hugh Cholmley, whose Prisoner hee was, though released by Contract between themselves; Sir Hugh giving him 200. l. in Gold and foure Horses, which Mr. Darley (most lovingly) shortly after requites; procuring a Cessation for Sir Hugh in Harvest-time, which hee made good use of; for he victuals the Castle with all Provisi­ons of Beefe and Pork caried 300 load of Corne and Hay from the next adjacent Villages into the Castle. Hee kept ever after Iutell [...]gence by Character with Sir Hugh; and when the Castle came to be distressed by Sicknesse and Scurvie, hee gave a warrant to Iohn Goures wife to goe into the Castle with as much Medicaments as was more then enough to have cured all the diseases in the Castle, but was hindered by the then Besiegers. Hee hath procured 5000. l. for his Fathers and his sufferings, though both of them before these late times was scarce worth so much; he is a great Enemy to the Army, and never sent in or appeared at the last Assizes at Yorke; notwithstanding hee is continued a Trustee for the State.

[Page 4] For Mr. Iohn Wastell a man armed Cap-a-pee, a Colonell, a Parlia­ment man, a Committee man, a Lawyer, a Iustice of Peace, a favourite of all sides, plaufible to all whom hee can deceive or make use of by In­finuation, none can be more properly called a Nuter, or rather a dange­rous Actor on all sides; for it is well knowne his complyance with all Interests (viz.) the Kings party, for there a Composition was payd for him to the Lord of Newcastle, and came downe to Hull to compleat his peace; but that the Siege then and the successe thereof prevented his for­mer progresse. And for the Scots party, his assurings and affections are plainly visible, he giving them Protections since our victory. His wayes to our owne parties appeare zealous, but it is time to bee cautious of a man of such sinister dealings; No man yet hath been so bold or watch­full to protect Papists and other Delinquents, notorious in so high a manner nor so open handed for gratuities, that ever I heard of, but one­ly himselfe; For being guarded with thus much power hee insures all his Actions unquestionable; As Colonell hee inslaves the Countrey as having imposed taxes beyond all measure of former Presidents the last raising of his Regiment, having cost the Countrey 5000. l. (and yet himselfe never in any Service.) As Parliament man, hee seldome appeares, for his gainfull trade is in the Countrey; As Committee­man, Lawyer, and Iustice, what hee pleaseth to conclude, is law.

Hee made his Brother, and Brother in law Westall and Wadnell, Seque­strators (though they were then beggers) both which have inriched themselves to Thousands, hee got the Lead Mines at Marryke into his hands, worth cleerly in Rent 1500. l. per annum, which he payd little or nothing for. (Whosoever is the Miller hee will be his Dog;) he is a per­son dangerous to the State, hath got much by the aforesaid wayes, which hath much increased his Estate, and one if further trusted will most as­suredly betray the Common-wealth.

For Mr. Rymer, hee is Treasurer for that Riding, though his credit could not secure before these times 20. l. being indeed (as I am infor­med) worse then nothing, And the Country accounted it a Paradox, that a begger should become a Treasurer; yet notwithstanding his in­considerablenesse, he is one of the chiefe of the Committee, and of him­selfe represents the whole by divers Orders (hee makes of his owne ac­cord,) with the Clarkes hand to it, carries the authority of an Order (as they two compact); make use to impose, grant, receive, or remit what they please; the like unlimited proceedings are now paralell'd (as they say) in any Committee. Lately made a Justice of Peace, though before [Page 5] so inconsiderable, that hee had not one foot of Land any where, except lately bought with the States money; His Landlord Sir Edward Osborne would have declared of this Gent: abilities, by what he was in arreare to him in rent, but whatsoever hee was then, hee hath thousands now.

For the East-riding▪ there is Mr. Thorpe the Lawyer, Mr. Christopher Ledgert, Mr. Richard Darley, with his youngest Brother; in those parts my stay was not long▪ but at Hull I met with a Charge which was pro­ved and sworne before Sir Mathew Boynton and divers others, then in power to act for the Parliament, which renders him disaffected; It consists of many Articles, materiall enough to forfeit the honour lately conferred upon him, and make him as grand a Delinquent as any who­soever; No marvell that Committees are so cryed forth on (though ve­ry usefull in their kind) so long as Vipers are nourished in their bosome.

For Mr. Ledgers, his actings have not been great at their Boord, by rea­son of his Martiall imployments, being a Militia Colonell, chosen as a fit servant for them. Hee hath obtained 5000. l. for his arreares, though he never did ten groates worth of service, he was cashiered before upon Iealousie of the confederacy with Hotham; hee is much against the Army, but he is one can doe little hurt; For his valour, or credit, caries little commendations in his Countrey. Those that procured him the 5000. l. made him late Colonell, the Forces raysed by him was to put him into a condition to make good tearmes; for his Patrons the Dar­leys, Anlibyes, and Thorp; In case Lieutenant Gen. Cromwell had been overthrown; then it would have appeared whom he would have fought for; it were well if these things were timely looked unto; For there were more Birds of that County, that wore the same feathers, which would all have flowne together, if any disaster had hapned to the Army.

For the two last, I thinke both Tradesmen (if not broke) their In­terest in their Country is not much more then the ayre they were borne in; They have by-friends got to bee of the Committee; Mr. Richard was made Treasurer, but since hee became a Member of the House, be­ing for want of constant Residence uncapable of the place; yet loath to part with so sweet a profit, obtained for a Kinsman to be his Substitute; But the younger Gentleman being none of the Committee, and there­fore not generally resented, by all meanes hee pulls in his Brother (one would thinke as by intayle) unto him and his Kindred for ever. Its ea­sily decerned, there is more in it then a direct benefit, when Treasurers was never yet called to an Accompt (their continuance in their Coun­ting tribble have been so long.) Besides hee is much suspected, being [Page 6] both needy and crafty; Little rumour'd yet, concerning the Cariage of the other, having but lately crept into the service. A notable Artist, his originall was a crackt Draper▪ hee seemingly acted for the Parliament, his wife, for the Earl of Newcastle, with whom she ever held intelligence. At the rendition of Yorke hee got imployment, broke all Articles, seized Trunkes, rifled Houses, cut downe Woods▪ got to bee Treasurer, con­verted the best things to be found for his owne use, got great summes into his owne hands of the Publiques, and to shrowd himself from Ac­compts, and from his Debts which hee was very able to pay out of the Common-wealths money, and to keep Thousands; he combined with one Blackwell another Associate, to chuse him Burgesse of New-Malton (it being the cleare right of Old-Malton to elect) though now decay­ed; Old-Malton having the mother Church and Priory belonging to it. Neither hath there been any Burgesse served in Parliament this 350 yeares for Malton before this present Parliament, which was 200 yeares before any of New-Malton was builded. All his other indeavours since have tended to get Monies, cheat the Common-wealth; and how hee behaved himselfe at the Kings Tryall (being in Towne all the time, and a Member of it) is very notorious.

Thus according to my Intelligence, J have presented unto you the cryes of the Country, which I am consident, are not so loude as they would be, being timerous to bee liberall with such Tax-masters, untill they may receive some incouragement from Iustice to examine the Complaints.

The relation of the County of Somersetshire Petition, to discover cor­rupt men in Authority, (having had so favorable acceptance) perswades their mention in some like way▪ These being communicated to the Generall Councell of the Army, no doubt but some redresse will be by their meanes, afforded; untill then, honest men will bee unwilling to act in Committees; by reason of that Ignominy and reproach, is cast upon them for these mens sakes; So▪ none but these who are necessita­ted to beg imployments, are willing to attend the service.

From the Leaguer my Orders were for Lancashire, where I must make some stay, having some businesse of this nature; from thence I shall make returne, unlesse otherwise, ordered to Lnodon where I long to bee, for the happinesse of yours and the rest of my Comrades society; hoping that God will give you all wisdome to carry things righteously, ayming at the great end the glory of God, in all your undertakings.